Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 February 1943 — Page 16

RALPH BURKHOLDER | Editor, tn U. 8. Service|

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY , To

WHOSE E INFLATION?

JE, CoNOMC Director James F. Byrnes this week declared war on inflation in vigorous and unmistakable terms.

Then he ordered another 10 per cent inflation | in 32 1m | ranks. 3 In the positions of national power, sich ‘men as

dustrial cities. In words of one syllable that is What his, and the president's, “48-hour week” means. Any industry always could work a 48-heur week, and many industries do so right now. But they pay time-and-a-half wages for every hour over 40, and they will continue | to pay time-and-a-half wages for every hour over 40. The only change under the new order is that in the 32 cities 'mamed they now are compelled to work 48-hour weeks. : Any given worker thus will produce 20 per cent more and be paid 30 per cent more than on a 40-hour week. So the’ ‘i pet result is a 10 per cent wage increase—regardless of what it may be called, ., {4 £ " § 8 : 8 8 = THE extra production tewholly desirable, and should help ; materially to meet the manpower shortage developing throughout the country under war stress. But the blanket 10 per cent wage increase is $ pure inflation, no matter how you dook at it. ; Neither Mr. Byrnes nor the president has direct power to change that, because the pay schedule for time worked beyond 40 hours a week is fixed by law—although there is { reason to believe congress might suspend it for the wartime emergency period if the president would withdraw his objection to a change. The attempt to prevent inflation by freezing wages last fall has all but foundered on that very rock. The presidential order froze wage rates—but it did not freeze incomes, except those above $25,000 a year which are too few to have any appreciable effect on inflation. The worker who earned $40 for a 40-hour week could no longer obtain $42.50 under that erder—but he could, and millions did, draw $55 by working 50 hours, the last 10 hours at premium pay rates enforced by federal law. : I Primarily there is where the excess buying power comes from abeut which Mr. Byrnes is so frankly worried. If we are to continue to distribute more money and fewer things to buy with money, neither Mr. Byrnes nor Mr. Roosevelt, nor anybody else can halt inflatien, And the net effect of the 48-hour week order, which is presumably a pattern to be extended to other cities later, is to compel: industries affected to pay $1.10 hereafter for each $1 of

goods produced; il T°

industries engaged in war production, as siost of those affected are, this means no immediate financial problem, because the increased costs are passed on to the taxpayer anyway. To industries still engaged in civilian goods production or in services to civilians, it means ruin in many, cases under existing price ceilings, And that will. lead inevitably to a demand for higher ceilings on prices. And there is inflation reduced to its simplest form, | -Mr. Byrnes minced no words in telling laber, agricul; | ture, industry and the rest of us what we are up against, what we are not going te get, in wartime. No swollen profits for industry, »® flood of luxuries for consumers, no higher wages for labor. : Thal That. was straight talk. It would have been more impressive if it had not included a hidden wage increase right in the same Spesth,

——

Indiana does not have, and existing Indiana laws pre- | rent the formation of, ‘such a program. A proposal to

tary hospital insurance on a non-profit basis now is before the house insurance committee as H. B. 192, | ~ H. B. 192 wodld permit establishment of the plan of the American HoSpital association, which now operates so * well in Michigan, Ohio, and in fact in every large industrial state except Indiana. Under it any employed group—such ‘as employees of a factory, a store, or a school district—may uy, at cost, insurance to cover all hospital expenses for themselves or their families. | The cost is low. Payments in otlier ‘cities run from | around 75 cents a month for a single man or wo to about $1.50 a month for a whole family, Policies cuswarily pay all hospital costs except doctors bills, ordirily up to a total of 21 days a year. | Participation is entirely voluntary, and even m subscribing groups are not required to join or pay

bess

‘wish to do so. I requires no expenditure of public

fu nds, ‘and is completely self-supporting.

_ Many Indiana hospital authorities and many ph | it

s favor the plan. To both hospital and physici

siciax can commit to & Bospital many cases he 1 rwis ‘trent there because of the ' to pay for hospital care. But even for the hospital, participation is vo hospital is compelled to join or take part in it

but it is significant that in other states and cities | has become operative those hospitals ad the |

i a rye 8 ne

Mall rates In Indigns, | $3 Tar: adjoining

. discussion at the White House” and went on to say

-the aumriermasiere’ department and acting Suartgesy

A ‘year ago, the basic army field ration was cost- {fa ing 43 cents per man per day. This represented |

means that the army is spending today

or $213,000000 a year,

es Fair Enough |

By Wasibiook Pegler . a ;

epublic. se dispatches have been sagresively arolabor i neither pro-union nor anti-uplon. Labor is bigger than the Jaber movement, and comes first. It is composed of gll Americans wh toil one way or another for pay sna includes practically all of us. The unions have much ta thelr credh od there are good men among the leadership In

the pious Dan Tobin of the teamsters and Philip: Murray, the president of the ©. LO, ‘have heen tolerant of associates whom they have known to.be rascals and enemies of both labor and unionism,

"Crooks Are Coddled'

THEY HAVE TAKEN no Initiative against thievery and brutality and thus, themselves, have been disloyal to labor and unionism. There is no national union leader big enough or good enough as a man for the job he holds. Mr. Tobin, for example, sat in the executive: council of the American Federation of Labor with George ‘Browne of the theatrical and movie employees’ union, knowing that Browne was a vicious underworld mobster, but held his tongue because the executive council is comparable to: ‘the New Deal party in that crooks are coddled lest they get sore and pull their unions out of the federation. He sat quiet even when Will Green, the president of A. F. of L., appointed this notoriogs - rogue to a commitiee to investigate racketeering. Mr. Murray recently called John L. ‘Lewis a Hitlerian dictator, as of course, Lewis is. But if slant occur to him to do this while he was collaborating with Mr. Lewis in his dictatorial rule of the. mine Yoskets His denunciation of his ‘old partper in this t of activity came. only after Mr, Lewis pulled his miners out of the C. I O, and feprived Mr, Murray of $30,000 a month in dues.

'Wagner Act a Fraud'

WHEN UNIONISM goes bad, as it has in the United States, its power for evil and ‘its’ evil works more than compensate the benefits of organization. All of the more studious and idealistic unioneers freely admit this. The New Deal parity, including Mrs. Roosevelt, had a hidden purpose in their labor program as they called it. The Wagner act's stated purpose is to permit workers to bargain cellectively through agents ‘of their own choice. It is a deliberate, vicious fraud, for it has been used from the beginning to compel millions of workers to join unions against their will and thus aceept agents not of their free choice, and pay taxes to private bodies and submit to laws which they did not ratify. If unionism falls in this countty during the war emergency, there will be a government dictatorship over laber. In fact, that condition is developing now and it should be remembered that Mrs. Roosevelt first proposed it about a year ago in one of her columns in which. she referred to “an interesting

that. she was convinced that every one of us should ‘be fold what to do.

"Where Blame Will Lie

IF UNIONISM fails, the blame will lie with such men as Green, Tobin, Murray and Lewis, and net with anyone who pointed eut the evils of the system of union rule in which they were. controlling characters and whom they abused for discerning their neglect and worst. If unionism falls and dictatorship develops not all of the big unioneers will fall with it. Dictatorship is not out of their line and they are fond of importance, power and easy living at the expense of their fellow men and they may conveniently be taken over into an absolute regime as the Ameri. can equivalent of the Russian commissar or the Nagi Sub-leader. The only unionism that can serve American labor is clean, good unionism responsible under law and served by conscientious, honest and humane men of the people.

y—

In Washington

By P Peter Edson

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 11.—=Increase in the cost of living that hits the civilian right where he lives has raised its ugly head to inerease the cost of military living in its most important phase of subsistence, food and clothing. Indjeation of the extent to which these inflationary tendencies have hit. the army was re“I. Corbin, chief -of procurement” dani

‘master general, during a special press inspection of

quantity buying. Today that cost has risen to 55

30 per cent. Translate thoss figures into the cost of feeding an army of four and a half million men on U, 8, soil, and you can see what the means. It approximately $2,475,000 per day for food, and-of that amount, the ciheiases Gus fo Highs 1504 piiess 8 SIN 8 gay,

Trousers Go Up : rs NOW TAKE the case of army pants. The Philadelphia Q. M. depot sion. to. let contracts for five sid a half million pairs

recently had occa~ | {

1 wholly defend to

The Hoosier Forum

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disagree with what you say, but will the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

“ARE WE CAPABLE oF . ACCEPTING THIS CHALLENGE?”

By Lee Louis. Maris, 3335 N. Meridian

We hear a great deal in these days when the allied powers seem to he assuming the offensive in the war, about the terms of the

pletely annihilate offending countries of the axis for our protection against future wars, Others take a vague neutral ground, hesitating between a truly just peace and one that would be practical and protect our interests. Then there is that small group of idealists, as they are called, which are always in the minority, who feel that we, who profess to the name of Christianity, have one big final chance to demonstrate what is really meant by the word. The Bible promises that “he who would lose his life shall find it" and that “the meek shall inherit the earth” Could these precepts of all Christians not be applied to nations as well as to men? Some will say—but such a course would not be practical. Well, the “practical” failed at Versailles so far has not saved us from fhe chaos in which we live today. People the whole world oven are very much alike, caring for the dear commen things of life and desiring decent moral, social and economic conditions in which to rear their} children, so that they may be beir equipped to serve their fellow=

Ydealism 1s the power from which

lanl world civilization has

Why not give it a chance in making the , and place our faith “in God instead of ourselves? We at home would have a great deal to do to «prepare for the sort of world which would follow such & peace treaty, We are rearing the generation now that would ‘be ‘a part of that world, and we, as parents, must rid ‘ourselves of old Prejysicss and selfishness first in order to teach our children fater-'€

cents per day per Y081, “38 increase of approximately | 4

- ins PI gr = -

There are some who would com- |-

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daily serving Hitler and home-brew fascists by trying to lower the American morale. As one mother of a boy in service, I regret if this is a war merely to preserve the American way of lifv, for I dislike Southern Sunday evening lynchings, Chicago Memorial day massgcres, American anti-Sem-itism, polecat senators from poll tax states, 10-year depressions lifted

(Times Yeades are javited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Because of the volume received, letters must be limited to 250 words. Letters must be Signed) :

ance, kindness and in one word—ignother world war and newspapers “the golden rule.” that censor news in the interest of We would need to instill in them its few big advertisers. the brave courage to sidestep the| Our boys are giving their young petty “smallnesses” of everyday life lives in far-off places not for . and alsp to present them with the|profits, but to realize man’s eternal greatest gift of all—the belief injdream of a better world. They the essential goodness and honesty know that once the American revoof all men. _ {lution, freedom for Negroes, enAre we capable of accepting a |franchisement of women and hunchallenge like this? dreds of social, reforms were also * » dreams mocked by the Rg but

“WOULD NEVER INSULT BOYS realized through the of the

. common man. WITH PEGLER CEIPPINGS Westbrook Pegler sells his: fifthBy Anna Bubjo, 2815 N. Meridian st.

column filth for gold and mocks Westbrook Pegler, to the tune of|those dreams of our gallant” youth, a reparted 95000 yearly and under | UE The Times WHICH SHAE 0 BAY the profection of “freedom of the|respect of all decent Americans by press” laws, from the testimony of|publishing those “realistic” Peglerrenegades and through half-truths|isms, and quotations lifted frem their| I for one would never insult our content and skillfuly strung t0-ipoys in arms by sending them clipgether; is doing a fine job for hisipings from The Times Pegler colTimes bosses and Hitler. umns. . Teo those hill-billy readers : who 8 8» reason “Pegler must be telling the|«pp HORTAG truth for he hasn’t been sued yet? oii sobs E HAS we offer for eensideration the truth OKED $a or insinuation in this statement in|By Mrs. L. A. Allen, $34 N. Hamilton Peglens own ead Sai Some things I would like to know: at Eleanor ay nig Little Westbrook lying on his back How to Make 35 cups coffee out screaming in, childish tantrums, “I{°° One pounc. still don’t: like the Soviet Union,”| Why should we have to drink -{can’t’ stop: the march ef the Red adulterated coffee? American peop a world events haven't we got two cars in every

When Peggy interprets history ac-|€arage and two chickens in every cording to his peculiar interests hepot? forgets that many citizens Jearned| of all the countries at war a modern history from more truthful long time why should #7e be. the

sources th Times columns This Barge was allowed four only country to say we should eat

columns in which to moek Wal- horse meat?

Jace sow Sous Spe) of the! I think it is a disgrace. Why not of the _Commen Man isi .ice more cattle and leave the ~~ |horses for beasts of burden which we may need? Why give jobs to the Japs while {we still have ofr men walking the it |streets since 1929? Why should we he taxed to pay | {men thousands of dollars a year to ~ § |think up something to make the 1 | American people miserable? { | Why do we imitate England every {i |thing they do? Have we no ideas | | of our own? : Why should we reduce our stand-

only through’ the: bloody profits of |

stre here. State poli im, elcien EEE ) We The le e were haggard. It re. oe for the well, but thes ot wy worse than physically unwell—they were ° mentally ill To the vast majority of people, mental illness is something spoken about in whispers. ‘They don't realize that there are countless kinds of ter l=

ness—ranging all the way from mild melancholia to

violence. Persons usually - associate meatal illness

| with something highly distasteful.

"A Light Came Into Their Eyes

AND HFRE were the individuals come to help, persons untrained, gripping themselves to da some mysterious sort of job. They were the members of the regular Red Cross staff, the volunteer sf , the OCD people, the Junior Chamber of Commerce men, who had left their jobs to come and ‘work. Then the order came for’ the men and women. volunteers to take food and coffee into the trains.

marched into the car. She stood facing the of bewildered-looking, tired people. She tried a Sn tative smile. A light came int some of the eyes watching her. She moved on down the aisle, Dans 500

out coffee and sandwiches, smiling, talking,

She patted an- elderly woman on the shoulder, ks Shean words. The woman smiled back gra

Somehow, They Both Understood

THEN IT WAS time for the Jaycees to guide these people down the steps of Union station to waiting busses. They went in, spoke softly to the women, helped them to their feet, helped collect their meager belongings, and started on the way. Men put their arms gently a da these nervous, tired, ill women. One woman put out her hand trustingly. She spoke to the man hi was helping her. He talked Dorks quietly, sympathetically. One elderly woman ‘dropped something from

“It's my dress, ” she. said apologetically. “You know we didn’t have much time to get our things.” He told her he understood. Somehow he did, too.

the stairs.

‘Someone Who Cared . .." *

THAT WAS Indianapolis yesterday. Indianapolis proving itself. These men and women workers went to o face something they were afraid of. They met it and conquered it. They saw people in trouble—sick people. . People who were actually afraid. People in whose eyes lay some indefinable something—something struggling to get out. Something like understanding. And Indianapolis people gave them understanding. You could tell it'in the way these tragic individualsy’ went to their busses. They had found someone who cared.

‘We the Women

By. Ruth Millett pie

OCCASIONALLY LETTERS come in from women who say they have quit doing this or that volunteer war work because some big shot in the organization hasn't treated them right, or because . some of the other workers *highhat” them. I have just read such a letter from a woman who has stopped making surgical dressings, and

ran the Red Oross office. Her attitude was, “We're doing charity work and if things don’t suit us we can quit.” Can the women who make’ surgical dressings for.

the boys whe are wounded at. the front afford to be

any more independent than these boys? The army probably isn’t run to the exact: satisfaction of every soldier, but they can’t quit in a huft turn in their uniforms just because of that :Neitk p should any volunteer workers in this country.

Working for Fighting Men THE VOLUNTEER WORKER who quits

3 doesn’t American boys wounded in battle.

sweetness: and light. There will be hurt felings, real or ‘imaginary slights, bickering and criticisms. But nobody has a moral right to quit working because of it. Volunteer war workers are not working for any

our fighting men. Volunteers who refuse to werk hecguse of some personal grievance say, in effect, “I don’t care what happens to my country or.its fighting men so long as I am able to put Mrs. War-Viork- Lanes nba vies »

To the Poin

A BOSTON man broke a robbers nose. More proof that is smart to kesp yous nose out Of other people’s ‘business.

4 » & ® AMERICANS HAD their feet on the ground Jong before Uncle Sam started shoe rationing. : * = ANY MAN can have his own Wey if there lint someone in it. 4 |

OUR WAR workers won't stop at anything—and they're getting a lot further than ols who won't start at anything. .

WALT WEEE the camper. says. Dues he mean Walking,jo ihe G13 Store).

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WITH THE coffee ration cut to &

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| weeks there wows be as much aninking on.

And she felt it. She took his arm and went down :

One woman bit her lip, picked up her basket and 4

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whose friends also stopped, because they didn't like the way the woman in charge .

hurt the executive who annoyed her—she hurts the ~ A

When many women, work together all 1s seldom

individugl in the organization. They ate working for |

AI 5 Sl i.

JOT 5 TS SI ee PR,

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v| THE RIGHT kind of pans wt hes is ty ocat sKapped for a5 ooy Bosch. sae

THE METAL shortage may take the hooks of ot x { dresses, but 15 will never take the eyes. : ;